June Empties 2019 *

8 July 2019

Empties time!

Yep, it's that time of month again! Rounding up my natural beauty and wellbeing empties is always a long process, but so rewarding and a great way to keep myself accountable for what I'm using. Plus, it's so helpful to have a visual diary of what I have tried and what worked/didn't work.

Unfortunately, I didn't record the sizes before recycling the containers this time around as I was in a bit of a rush getting ready for our travels, so apologies for any missing sizes -- I promise to jot them down for July! I did link to all the full size products as usual though, so you can at least see options and prices for the items that are still available to purchase.

There were lots of loves, one total failure, and overall just a fab month of products -- 19 in all for June! Many are samples, but there are a fair amount of larger sizes here too that I have been working my way through for many months.

As you might notice, the plastic packaging is slowly decreasing in my stash too which I am thrilled about. There are still plastic lids on most items, but the total amount is less than ever for me. Over the last few months I have been separating out the plastics from the more eco friendly materials in an effort to highlight usage in this particular area. It's such a good idea to have a 'photo diary' of packaging, as it really helps as both a reminder and as an incentive to keep trying harder. I am doing my best not to buy anything that has a negative impact on the environment (I mean, as much as feasibly possible!) and I think that is really starting to show in these empties roundups as the items wrapped in plastic on my shelf are dwindling. Is this something you are working on too??

I used to focus on what could and could not be recycled, and tried to call out any brands that did not have packaging that could be popped in the blue bin. But as time has gone on, that just is not enough for me anymore. Recycling clearly isn't working on a global scale, so it's time for me to pare back and opt for other materials - ones that can be repurposed, reused, refilled, or at the very least, composted. Glass, metal, paper, and plant based creations are becoming more and more prevalent in my cupboards, and I honestly couldn't be happier about it. And the great thing?? It doesn't take too much effort to find these options in the beauty world anymore -- at least not with skincare and wellbeing goodies.

I would love to hear your thoughts on this, especially in light of #PlasticFreeJuly -- it's a difficult subject to tackle, so your opinions are greatly appreciated! And if you are looking for more tips or maybe product suggestions, just have a browse of my "zero waste" or "plastic" tags. I've covered a fair amount so far here on The ecoLogical!

But let's jump into the empties for now, shall we?

Transparency Key:* This post contains affiliate linkssome of these items have been giftedNo matter how I have received a product, whether it has been purchased with my own money, gifted by a brand, been subsidized by a brand, won, gifted by friends/family, or purchased with a gift voucher, my approach is always the same -- honesty, integrity, and highlighting both the good and the bad. You can find more information on Disclosures and Privacy here.

Aloe de la Isla Aloe Vera
Enjoyed?: no, which is annoying as I picked it up while in Tenerife ages ago as we were spending so much time in the sun at the time. it was an 'emergency' purchase, but a total flop - ended up dumping most of it in the end which I almost NEVER do :(
Positives: I mean, I guess it's not sticky?
Negatives: phenoxyethonal, lots of filler, plastic bottle, irritated my skin instead of soothing
Buy again?: never again!

Balance Me Hint of Glamour Lip Balm (10ml):
Enjoyed?: mostly - this is an odd one, as I do really like it, but not as a lip balm. It is NOT a lip balm. It is a tinted lip gloss. It does eventually dry down a little, but even then it is not rich enough to be considered a balm.
Positives: nourishing, lovely shade, natural tint
Negatives: a bit sticky, plastic tube
Buy again?: no longer available to purchase - this exact item is no longer sold, but the closest thing is the new Tinted Lip Salve

Old Faithful Beard Oil Kintsugi (30ml):
Enjoyed?: yes
Positives: used this mainly for shaving and it worked fab, gentle, smells interesting (light, woody + citrus tang)
Negatives: clings to skin so be aware if you're shaving - you may need a second rinse afterwards
Buy again?: doesn't seem to be available anymore

The Salt Parlour Coffee + Coconut Stimulate Scrub (40g):
Enjoyed?: yes/no
Positives: great exfoliant - scrubby but not harsh, less messy than traditional coffee scrub, good for skin conditions like eczema
Negatives: the smell never really grew on me - a bit muddy, this one felt slicker than the others and clung to my skin
Buy again?: not this one, but love some of the other varieties!Further Reviews

Love Absolute Soulful Spice Mask & Balm (5ml):
Enjoyed?: yes!
Positives: again I love how it emulsifies - so unique!, helps bring renewed radiance to complexion, helps combat blemishes, so easy to apply and rinse, gently exfoliating
Negatives: some may not enjoy the smell - though this wasn't an issue for me!
Buy again?: I hope so!
Further Reviews see above

Love Absolute Salvation Angel Clay (5ml):
Enjoyed?: yes
Positives: very detoxifying, exfoliates + buffs away dead cells, good if you need to totally jump start your skin and start fresh
Negatives: can be a bit too exfoliating if you have more sensitive skin - easily sorted by rinsing off with just water (no cloth)
Buy again?: maybe - may try another sample first
Further reviews see above

Happi Body Co Cleansing Melt (30g):
Enjoyed?: yes!
Positives: smells amazing (citrus, juicy, happy vibes), begins to turn to a milk when in contact with warm water which makes for easy rinsing, gentle, doesn't clog pores, fab plastic free container that is perfect for repurposing, nourishing (don't need further moisturizers some days as this is enough!)
Negatives: not really a negative, but it is a bit too uplifting (despite the calming lavender notes) for me in the evenings - I prefer to use in my AM routine as it's such a great boost to start the day off with
Buy again?: yes! I'm especially keen to try the new charcoal versionFurther Reviews

Antipodes Reincarnation Pure Facial Exfoliator (75ml):
Enjoyed?: yes
Positives: v v gentle which is great for my semi-sensitive skin, non-irritating, smells lovely (faint vanilla-esque notes, rounded, and citrus), didn't clog pores, good for daily use unlike other exfoliants, a little goes a long way, lasted ages
Negatives: some may find this isn't exfoliating enough (I find it perfect for the delicate facial area though personally), plastic cap, difficult to get final bits out towards the end
Buy again?: I actually have another tube already

Balm Balm Detox Bath & Shower Oil (5ml):
Enjoyed?: yes
Positives: potent aroma so only need a small amount, lovely scent (though not one I associate with a detox), not greasy on the skin, was affordable
Negatives: no longer available to buy (and I don't think you could ever buy "full size" versions, just a set)
Buy again?: no longer available to purchase *sigh*

Evolve Organic Beauty Nourishing Hair Elixir (30ml):
Enjoyed?: yes/no
Positives: adore the scent (Tahitian Monoi is like a pseudo vanilla aroma), helps develop natural waves & curls, good for a leave in 'mask' or rinse out treatment for a quick boost, offers shine without being greasy
Negatives: my hair seems to have stopped responding well to this - it used to be a staple, but lately it seems to be drying out my hair instead of nourishing it (odd as I've used several bottles in the past with no issues - may be stress related?)
Buy again?: unsure at the moment - we'll see soon!Further Reviews

Overall, a great month of products! I have a lot of full size items I am working through, so June did not have quite so many finished items, but the ones I did empty I enjoyed for the most part. The 'loser' for me last month was the aloe gel I picked up in Tenerife. To be fair, it was my fault for not looking closely at the ingredient list before purchase, but honestly I am disappointed that such a poor formula was on offer when fresh aloe is so abundant! Irritating for sure.

In terms of favourites, I've got to give it to Love Absolute, Tisserand, and Happi Body Co, followed closely by Antipodes, Ezape, Mallow + White, and Balm Balm (though that isn't actually available to purchase anymore -- boo!). I have no idea what changed in regards to the Evolve hair elixir, as it used to work wonders for my hair and I have raved about it so much in the past. But I have another bottle, so I will give it another go and see how I fair. Fingers crossed!

Did you spy any favourites of your own in my monthly roundup?? I would love to know which are tried and true green goodies for you, and which ones you haven't had much luck with. It's so good being able to compare and contrast experiences!

As for empties, what did you use up in June?? Let me know in the comments!